Page 3 of The Second Kiss
I pull away and blush. “Just a necklace.”
He picks it up and rubs it between his fingers. “You're always wearing it. Why?”
My face gets hotter. For some reason, I didn’t think he’d noticed my locket, even though he’s spent considerable time in the vicinity of my neck.
“Some guy give it to you?” He laughs. “Some guy who was cheap?”
I pull the locket out of his grasp. “It was a long time ago.”
He reaches for it again. “There better not be a picture of another guy in there.”
I press it in my palm, panicked that he’ll open the locket and see the picture of Jacob I cut to fit the tiny space inside. “It’s just a silly piece of jewelry, from an old friend.”
“Then why don’t you take it off?”
“I—” I swallow hard. There’s no way I could explain my locket to Brad. “I guess I’m just used to wearing it. I’ve had it since I was a little girl.”
He slides his fingers along the edge of my shirt. “Maybe it’s time for you to grow up, little girl.” He traces the chain up my neck. When he reaches the clasp he undoes it, slides the necklace off, and hands it to me. “I don’t want my girlfriend wearing anything another guy gave her.” My neck feels naked without the locket, but my heart soars with the word “girlfriend.” He kisses me one more time before he leans across my lap and opens the door. “I’m not coming in with you. I have someplace I need to be. I’ll see you tonight.”
I slide the necklace into the pocket of my jeans and snuggle into Brad’s letterman jacket, breathing in the smell—leather, a bit of sweat, and his cologne. I’m wearing his jacket, and he said girlfriend. That definitely means he’s mine, right?
The hall feels empty. Weird how alone I feel now that I’m used to him walking with me to every class. I walk faster. I’m going to be late. My cell phone buzzes, so I adjust the books in my arms to answer it.
A text from Brad:
MISS U
I pull my books against my chest. I don’t care if I’m late. I text back:
MISS U 2
Before I hitsend,someone slams into me from behind. I sprawl forward, my books fly in all directions, and my phone hits the ground. A black and green Converse kicks it to the other side of the hall. I’m not sure if it’s an accident or if they did it on purpose. I kneel to gather my books. My face is burning. The few people left in the hall are laughing. One laugh rings out above the rest—high pitched and familiar. Lexie. I look up, but I can't see her in the departing crowd.
I gather my books as fast as I can and go to retrieve my phone. I can’t find it. Did someone take it? Lexie? I’m crawling around on the floor looking for it when a polished pair of dark shoes stands beside me. My gaze moves up past dark socks and gray slacks to the scowl. Mr. Vince the vice principal, towers over me. “Miss Roberts, what are you doing on the floor? The bell just rang.”
“I can’t find my phone. I dropped it. It got kicked somewhere in this corner.”
“Phones aren’t allowed in class,” he answers.
“But—”
“I’m sure it’ll turn up. Check the office before you leave school today. But you need to get to class. Now.”
With him watching me, I have no choice. But I’m positive my phone didn’t just disappear on its own.
three
The Call
Brad has to get ready for the game, so Jasmine takes me home. She’s cheering tonight so she can’t hover while I get changed.
She leaves me with strict instructions before she drives away—the shirt Brad requested, the gold choker to emphasize my long neck, the jeans she talked me into buying even though they were way overpriced and too tight, and my tall leather boots. Straighten my hair. Brad’s jacket tossed casually over my shoulders. Heavy on the make-up. Emphasize my eyes.
I’m going through my mental checklist, so I don’t notice Mom standing at the door when I walk in until I see what she’s holding—my cell phone. “My phone? Wait, what? Where did you find it?”
“Someone turned it into my office,” Mom is a counselor at the middle school that’s just past the stadium from my high school.
“How did it get there?” I set my backpack on the floor.
